The extremely low utilization of shared parental leave (SPL), a government initiative introduced in 2015, has received widespread attention. According to a YouGov and Winckworth Sherwood poll of 1,000 UK employees, only 7% currently take advantage of SPL.
SPL allows couples to decide how to divide up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay during the first year, which can be taken in various ways to suit their needs. This policy is distinct from current paternity and maternity leave, which often reinforce traditional caregiving roles. Maternity leave tends to offer more generous time off for mothers (or primary carers), while paternity leave typically provides significantly less time off in comparison. In theory, SPL aims to address gender equality issues both in the workplace and at home.
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